2025 ICD-10-CM code A24.1
Acute and fulminating melioidosis.
Medical necessity for treatment of melioidosis is established by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with the infection, along with laboratory confirmation of Burkholderia pseudomallei.Treatment is necessary to prevent serious complications, including sepsis, organ failure, and death.
Physicians should be aware of the potential for melioidosis in patients who have traveled to or live in endemic areas, especially Southeast Asia and Australia. The diagnosis can be challenging due to the varied clinical presentation, which can range from localized skin infections to severe pneumonia and sepsis.Laboratory tests are crucial for confirming the diagnosis, as serological tests are not always reliable. Treatment typically involves intravenous antibiotics such as ceftazidime or meropenem, followed by oral antibiotics like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
In simple words: Acute and fulminating melioidosis is a serious infection you can get from a bacteria found in soil and water. It can cause problems like pneumonia and sepsis.It's most common in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Acute and fulminating melioidosis, also known as Whitmore's disease, is a severe infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is characterized by a sudden and violent onset, typically acquired through cuts in the skin, ingestion of contaminated water, or inhalation of contaminated soil dust.It is more common in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Example 1: A patient presents with fever, cough, and chest pain after returning from a trip to Thailand.A chest X-ray reveals pneumonia, and blood cultures grow Burkholderia pseudomallei, confirming the diagnosis of acute and fulminating melioidosis., A farmer in northern Australia develops a localized skin infection after sustaining a cut while working in the fields.The infection rapidly progresses to sepsis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei is identified as the causative agent., A patient with diabetes in Malaysia experiences recurrent abscesses and a persistent cough.After multiple rounds of antibiotics fail to resolve the infections, a culture reveals Burkholderia pseudomallei, indicating chronic melioidosis.
Documentation should include travel history, exposure to potentially contaminated soil or water, clinical presentation (e.g., fever, cough, skin lesions, abscesses), laboratory findings (e.g., positive cultures for Burkholderia pseudomallei), and treatment provided (e.g., antibiotic therapy).
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Critical Care, Travel Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Public Health Clinic